Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi

25 reviews

simonefk's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I read this for my book club and I know it's not something I would have picked up myself. It's dystopian with comparisons made to Black Mirror.

The story itself is interesting. Our protagonist, Anisa is told about an exclusive language learning course at 'The Centre' where you can become fluent in any language in ten days. I loved the first half of this book and I do wish we spent more time at The Centre, the second half is Anisa trying to figure out how the centre works, how it is possible to become fluent in a language in ten days.

I liked Anisa's voice, yes she is flawed but I like that. Her views and situations around feminism, race, culture, religion and class were insightful. Her relationships, again flawed, her expectations of friendship, perhaps too much but I like the perspective of a woman who is messy and human.

4 stars out of 5 because the story kind of loses it's way towards the end, I feel like it was unfinished and messy. It does get really quite strange and almost as though the author ran out if steam but regardless I'm still glad I read The Centre and would recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, and Islamophobia

andlovetoowillruinus's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism

Moderate: Islamophobia and Classism

chris_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The end felt a little abrupt. Characters could be frustrating but were ultimately compelling. The prose and themes are where this book really shines though.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting

Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Gore, Racial slurs, Self harm, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Alcohol

parissummerreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, and Cannibalism

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

afrorodeo's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

1.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, and Cannibalism

joduewekeperez's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, and Colonisation

Minor: Sexual assault

hanz's review against another edition

mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment

skogsheks's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment

kay_chan's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

My only thoughts at the end of this book is that I just wish it was more. Either darker to make it eerie, or more psychological to make it interesting. 

Disappointed that it just kind of fell flat and I had to keep going back each time I picked up the book to get reoriented. Themes were incredible!

LGBTQ FMC
Pakistani FMC 
Women in STEAM

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Content Warnings

Minor: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Islamophobia, Medical trauma, and Classism

Ok so this is a HUGE SPOILER - but I feel like someone needs to mention that the 'powers' are from cannibalism just in case anyone isnt ready for the *dark* nature of content.

thehannahclaire's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Cannibalism

Moderate: Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Islamophobia, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism